John Tulachka is a busy guy.
He not only serves full-time as public works director for the village of Mishicot, but also volunteers as a firefighter for both the Mishicot and Tisch Mills fire departments.
His dedication to all those roles led the Wisconsin State Firefighter's Association to name Tulachka Firefighter of the Year for 2022 at its recent banquet and annual conference.
“I was shocked,” Tulachka, who didn’t know he was nominated, said. “It’s such an honor.”
He was nominated for his actions to save a family when their house caught fire during a major snowstorm last year. Tulachka was plowing snow at about 3 a.m. on Feb. 25, 2022, when his pager went off, alerting him to a nearby fire. He decided to go straight to the scene in his public works truck and was the first to arrive, clearing access to a water hydrant and a place for fire trucks to park.